Latest news with #Tricky
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
"I haven't been home in four days" - Oldham Athletic fans celebrate promotion to Football League
Thousands of Oldham Athletic faithfuls were in full voice as they celebrated the club's return to the Football League. Just over 8,000 fans were at Boundary Park for their play-off final win parade this evening (June 2). Yesterday, The Latics booked their spot in League 2 in a 3-2 victory over Southend United at Wembley in the final of the National League play-offs. The win means promotion to League 2, after three years away. In 2022 the club claimed the unwanted honour of becoming the first former Premier League side to drop into non-league football. READ MORE: Two Brit gangsters shot dead outside Costa del Sol bar READ MORE: 'RIP Tricky': Tributes to Mick Martindale flood in as popular ex-rugby player named as man at centre of Oldham murder investigation The win caps a remarkable turnaround in fortunes under their new owner, charismatic local businessman Frank Rothwell, who took over the club in the summer of 2022. Around 21,000 Oldham fans made the trip to Wembley for what was their first visit to the national stadium for over 30 years, since their FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester United in 1994. Following the heroics, a free party was held at Boundary Park where supporters showered the players with adoration as they made a lap around the pitch, reciprocating the love. Phil Harrop, 50, was at Wembley on Sunday, and despite being back in Oldham and at Boundary Park with his wife Nicola for the parade, he hasn't been home yet. "I bought this t-shirt on Wednesday, and I thought I better wear it because I might never wear it again after Sunday. I've had it on for four days now." He explained to the M.E.N. "I went to London, stayed in Watford, went to the game, drove back from Watford, went to the Fox and Pine in Oldham and then I came straight here. "This means so much to the town. It means so much for anybody who bothers to support Oldham Athletic." Adam Kershaw was also at Wembley with his family, he told the M.E.N: "I just wanted to have a day out at Wembley. I just wanted to experience that with my son and wife. "It was the best feeling in the world walking down Wembley Way with your eight-year-old lad, honestly, the best feeling in the world. "He's only ever known us in non-league so it felt special. It was kind of a big two fingers up to his mates who support United and City. "He went into school this morning with a scarf, bragging about how he's been to Wembley." Jack Lusty, 29 and his mate Liam Paull, 30, could barely speak with their voices still recovering from the weekend. Nonetheless, they stressed how important the win was for the town. Liam said: "We've been nothing since I've started supporting Oldham, it's been thirty years of misery. "I didn't cry when my child was born, but I shed a few tears. When we won, I was full of tears! "What's massive about the win is, if you look around, it's the amount of children. All they know is that Oldham have just done that. These children will be coming here now instead of City or United." "No one will understand the journey we've been on to get that moment." Added Jack. "That's what makes it so special. "Hopeful it's the first of many now and we're back on our way up."
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Facing a broken economy, Ghana's tech-savvy teens turn to fraud
From mobile money fraud to investment scams, a murky digital underworld is sucking in minors, many working from their bedrooms or small kiosks operating in plain sight Image: Supplied In the dusty alleys of Nima, a shanty town in the heart of Ghana's capital, a 17-year-old called Ghost reclines on a faded plastic chair inside a dimly lit internet cafe. Outside, barefoot children chase a punctured football. Inside, Ghost's fingers dance across the keyboard, his eyes locked on WhatsApp as he engineers a phishing scam that could earn him thousands of cedis in just a few hours. "I made GHC12,000 ($770) last month," Ghost told AFP, his voice low and calculated, describing an online store he set up on Instagram. "People bought phones and laptops. None of it existed." Ghost, a pseudonym he gave AFP, is one of a growing number of Accra's teenagers turning to cybercrime to survive in a country mired in economic crisis, battling both youth unemployment and broken dreams. From mobile money fraud to investment scams, a murky digital underworld is sucking in minors, many working from their bedrooms or small kiosks operating in plain sight -- anywhere with a stable internet connection. Too good to be true Nima's 441 neighbourhood is a tightly packed, working-class community of corrugated iron housing and open drains. Opportunities are scarce -- but mobile phones are not. Ghana's Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has raised the alarm over a surge in cyberfraud, with financial losses tallying $282,776 between January and March 2025, nearly doubling the $154,241 recorded during the same period in 2024. Officials warn that youth-led scams, powered by social media and peer pressure, are driving the spike. Phishing scams, brand impersonation and fake online shops dominate the scene, with teenagers posing on Snapchat and TikTok as vendors with offers that are too good to be true. Mercy Adumoah, 20, was one such victim. "I saw a page on Snapchat selling heels. I needed a pair for an event, so I paid without thinking twice," she recounted. After they received the money, the sellers blocked her account. Experts say these crimes have become systemic in a country with a battered economy that is still recovering from a 2023 debt default. Inflation shot above 54 percent in 2022 and has remained above 20 percent into 2025. At a junior high school near Nima, teacher Mohammed Inusah has witnessed a transformation. "Some of my students have iPhones more expensive than my salary," he told AFP. "They flaunt cash, buy designer clothes and sneakers." "The parents are either unaware or too afraid to confront them." 'I know it's wrong' A soft-spoken boy with a mop of dreadlocks who gave the name Tricky said he got his start in scamming by copying scripts from online forums in Nigeria. Later, his cousin taught him mobile money fraud -- how to pose as an agent from the local telecom company to get access to people's accounts. Tricky claims his biggest hit since in his two years of scamming was $500 -- twice the monthly salary of a public health nurse or a teacher. "I bought clothes, helped my mum pay rent," he said. "I know it's wrong, but tell me, what else can I do?" The CSA has also flagged a dramatic rise in online investment fraud. Between January and August 2024 alone, 149 cases were recorded with losses nearing $128,534. "I fell for one," admits 18-year-old "Bronzy", who went from victim to perpetrator. "A guy scammed me using a fake forex trading site. So I learnt the game." He now runs a group on Telegram promising 20 percent weekly returns. "People invest and I disappear," he said. Abubakar Issaka, president of the Cyber Security Experts Association of Ghana, said the situation is only getting worse. "The regulations exist... but enforcement is weak. The number of professionals is not growing fast enough to match the fraud cases," he said. Tracing perpetrators "is a challenge due to poor data integration" between telecoms operators and the national ID database, he added. In some cases, the phone numbers used in frauds "belong to people who died years ago. Fraudsters are steps ahead." No end in sight Victims suffer anxiety and financial ruin. Scammers are not untouched. Ghost admits he's often afraid. "Sometimes, I can't sleep. I wonder if the police will knock. But when I see my friends living large, I feel like I must keep going." As dusk settles over Nima, Ghost logs off, pockets his burner phone, and steps into the fading light. He didn't make any money that day. His world is one of quick, fickle wins and quiet fear. But with Ghana's economy showing no signs of rapid recovery, many more are likely to follow him into the shadows. AFP
IOL News
08-05-2025
- IOL News
Ghana's tech-savvy teens turn to fraud
In a broken economy, many young people in Ghana with smartphones are tuning in to digit fraud and scams. In the dusty alleys of Nima, a shanty town in the heart of Ghana's capital, a 17-year-old called Ghost reclines on a faded plastic chair inside a dimly lit internet cafe. Outside, barefoot children chase a punctured football. Inside, Ghost's fingers dance across the keyboard, his eyes locked on WhatsApp as he engineers a phishing scam that could earn him thousands of cedis in just a few hours. "I made GHC12 000 (R14 000) last month," Ghost said, his voice low and calculated, describing an online store he set up on Instagram. "People bought phones and laptops. None of it existed." Ghost, a pseudonym, is one of a growing number of Accra's teenagers turning to cybercrime to survive in a country mired in economic crisis, battling both youth unemployment and broken dreams. From mobile money fraud to investment scams, a murky digital underworld is sucking in minors, many working from their bedrooms or small kiosks operating in plain sight - anywhere with a stable internet connection. Nima's 441 neighbourhood is a tightly packed, working-class community of corrugated iron housing and open drains. Opportunities are scarce - but mobile phones are not. Ghana's Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has raised the alarm over a surge in cyberfraud, with financial losses tallying $282 776 between January and March 2025, nearly doubling the $154 241 recorded during the same period in 2024. Officials warn that youth-led scams, powered by social media and peer pressure, are driving the spike. Phishing scams, brand impersonation and fake online shops dominate the scene, with teenagers posing on Snapchat and TikTok as vendors with offers that are too good to be true. Mercy Adumoah, 20, was one such victim. "I saw a page on Snapchat selling heels. I needed a pair for an event, so I paid without thinking twice," she recounted. After they received the money, the sellers blocked her account. Experts say these crimes have become systemic in a country with a battered economy that is still recovering from a 2023 debt default. Inflation shot above 54 percent in 2022 and has remained above 20 percent into 2025. At a junior high school near Nima, teacher Mohammed Inusah has witnessed a transformation. "Some of my students have iPhones more expensive than my salary," he said. "They flaunt cash, buy designer clothes and sneakers. The parents are either unaware or too afraid to confront them." A soft-spoken boy with a mop of dreadlocks who gave the name Tricky said he got his start in scamming by copying scripts from online forums in Nigeria. Later, his cousin taught him mobile money fraud - how to pose as an agent from the local telecom company to get access to people's accounts. Tricky claims his biggest hit since in his two years of scamming was $500 - twice the monthly salary of a public health nurse or a teacher. "I bought clothes, helped my mum pay rent," he said. "I know it's wrong, but tell me, what else can I do?" The CSA has also flagged a dramatic rise in online investment fraud. Between January and August 2024 alone, 149 cases were recorded with losses nearing $128 534. "I fell for one," admits 18-year-old "Bronzy", who went from victim to perpetrator. "A guy scammed me using a fake forex trading site. So I learnt the game." He now runs a group on Telegram promising 20 percent weekly returns. "People invest and I disappear," he said. Abubakar Issaka, president of the Cyber Security Experts Association of Ghana, said the situation is only getting worse. "The regulations exist... but enforcement is weak. The number of professionals is not growing fast enough to match the fraud cases," he said. Tracing perpetrators "is a challenge due to poor data integration" between telecoms operators and the national ID database, he added. In some cases, the phone numbers used in frauds "belong to people who died years ago. Fraudsters are steps ahead." Victims suffer anxiety and financial ruin. Scammers are not untouched. Ghost admits he's often afraid. "Sometimes, I can't sleep. I wonder if the police will knock. But when I see my friends living large, I feel like I must keep going." As dusk settles over Nima, Ghost logs off, pockets his burner phone, and steps into the fading light. He didn't make any money that day. His world is one of quick, fickle wins and quiet fear. But with Ghana's economy showing no signs of rapid recovery, many more are likely to follow him into the shadows. | AFP
The Star
08-05-2025
- The Star
Facing a broken economy, Ghana's tech-savvy teens turn to fraud
ACCRA: In the dusty alleys of Nima, a shanty town in the heart of Ghana's capital, a 17-year-old called Ghost reclines on a faded plastic chair inside a dimly lit Internet cafe. Outside, barefoot children chase a punctured football. Inside, Ghost's fingers dance across the keyboard, his eyes locked on WhatsApp as he engineers a phishing scam that could earn him thousands of cedis in just a few hours. 'I made GHC12,000 (RM3,835 or US$770) last month,' Ghost told AFP, his voice low and calculated, describing an online store he set up on Instagram. 'People bought phones and laptops. None of it existed.' Ghost, a pseudonym he gave AFP, is one of a growing number of Accra's teenagers turning to cybercrime to survive in a country mired in economic crisis, battling both youth unemployment and broken dreams. From mobile money fraud to investment scams, a murky digital underworld is sucking in minors, many working from their bedrooms or small kiosks operating in plain sight – anywhere with a stable Internet connection. Too good to be true Nima's 441 neighbourhood is a tightly packed, working-class community of corrugated iron housing and open drains. Opportunities are scarce – but mobile phones are not. Ghana's Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has raised the alarm over a surge in cyberfraud, with financial losses tallying US$282,776 (RM1.20mil) between January and March 2025, nearly doubling the US$154,241 (RM658,069) recorded during the same period in 2024. Officials warn that youth-led scams, powered by social media and peer pressure, are driving the spike. Phishing scams, brand impersonation and fake online shops dominate the scene, with teenagers posing on Snapchat and TikTok as vendors with offers that are too good to be true. Mercy Adumoah, 20, was one such victim. 'I saw a page on Snapchat selling heels. I needed a pair for an event, so I paid without thinking twice,' she recounted. After they received the money, the sellers blocked her account. Experts say these crimes have become systemic in a country with a battered economy that is still recovering from a 2023 debt default. Inflation shot above 54% in 2022 and has remained above 20% into 2025. At a junior high school near Nima, teacher Mohammed Inusah has witnessed a transformation. 'Some of my students have iPhones more expensive than my salary,' he told AFP. 'They flaunt cash, buy designer clothes and sneakers.' 'The parents are either unaware or too afraid to confront them.' 'I know it's wrong' A soft-spoken boy with a mop of dreadlocks who gave the name Tricky said he got his start in scamming by copying scripts from online forums in Nigeria. Later, his cousin taught him mobile money fraud – how to pose as an agent from the local telecom company to get access to people's accounts. Tricky claims his biggest hit since in his two years of scamming was US$500 (RM2,133) – twice the monthly salary of a public health nurse or a teacher. 'I bought clothes, helped my mum pay rent,' he said. 'I know it's wrong, but tell me, what else can I do?' The CSA has also flagged a dramatic rise in online investment fraud. Between January and August 2024 alone, 149 cases were recorded with losses nearing US$128,534 (RM548,390). 'I fell for one,' admits 18-year-old 'Bronzy', who went from victim to perpetrator. 'A guy scammed me using a fake forex trading site. So I learnt the game.' He now runs a group on Telegram promising 20% weekly returns. 'People invest and I disappear,' he said. Abubakar Issaka, president of the Cyber Security Experts Association of Ghana, said the situation is only getting worse. 'The regulations exist... but enforcement is weak. The number of professionals is not growing fast enough to match the fraud cases,' he said. Tracing perpetrators 'is a challenge due to poor data integration' between telecoms operators and the national ID database, he added. In some cases, the phone numbers used in frauds 'belong to people who died years ago. Fraudsters are steps ahead.' No end in sight Victims suffer anxiety and financial ruin. Scammers are not untouched. Ghost admits he's often afraid. 'Sometimes, I can't sleep. I wonder if the police will knock. But when I see my friends living large, I feel like I must keep going.' As dusk settles over Nima, Ghost logs off, pockets his burner phone, and steps into the fading light. He didn't make any money that day. His world is one of quick, fickle wins and quiet fear. But with Ghana's economy showing no signs of rapid recovery, many more are likely to follow him into the shadows. – AFP
eNCA
05-05-2025
- eNCA
Facing a broken economy, Ghana's tech-savvy teens turn to fraud
ACCRA - In the dusty alleys of Nima, a shanty town in the heart of Ghana's capital, a 17-year-old called Ghost reclines on a faded plastic chair inside a dimly lit internet cafe. Outside, barefoot children chase a punctured football. Inside, Ghost's fingers dance across the keyboard, his eyes locked on WhatsApp as he engineers a phishing scam that could earn him thousands of cedis in just a few hours. "I made GHC12,000 ($770) last month," Ghost told AFP, his voice low and calculated, describing an online store he set up on Instagram. "People bought phones and laptops. None of it existed." Ghost, a pseudonym he gave AFP, is one of a growing number of Accra's teenagers turning to cybercrime to survive in a country mired in economic crisis, battling both youth unemployment and broken dreams. From mobile money fraud to investment scams, a murky digital underworld is sucking in minors, many working from their bedrooms or small kiosks operating in plain sight -- anywhere with a stable internet connection. - Too good to be true - Nima's 441 neighbourhood is a tightly packed, working-class community of corrugated iron housing and open drains. Opportunities are scarce -- but mobile phones are not. Ghana's Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has raised the alarm over a surge in cyberfraud, with financial losses tallying $282,776 between January and March 2025, nearly doubling the $154,241 recorded during the same period in 2024. Officials warn that youth-led scams, powered by social media and peer pressure, are driving the spike. Phishing scams, brand impersonation and fake online shops dominate the scene, with teenagers posing on Snapchat and TikTok as vendors with offers that are too good to be true. Mercy Adumoah was one such victim. "I saw a page on Snapchat selling heels. I needed a pair for an event, so I paid without thinking twice," she recounted. After they received the money, the sellers blocked her account. Experts say these crimes have become systemic in a country with a battered economy that is still recovering from a 2023 debt default. Inflation shot above 54 percent in 2022 and has remained above 20 percent into 2025. At a junior high school near Nima, teacher Mohammed Inusah has witnessed a transformation. "Some of my students have iPhones more expensive than my salary," he told AFP. "They flaunt cash, buy designer clothes and sneakers." "The parents are either unaware or too afraid to confront them." - 'I know it's wrong' - A soft-spoken boy with a mop of dreadlocks who gave the name Tricky said he got his start in scamming by copying scripts from online forums in Nigeria. Later, his cousin taught him mobile money fraud -- how to pose as an agent from the local telecom company to get access to people's accounts. Tricky claims his biggest hit since in his two years of scamming was $500 -- twice the monthly salary of a public health nurse or a teacher. "I bought clothes, helped my mum pay rent," he said. "I know it's wrong, but tell me, what else can I do?" The CSA has also flagged a dramatic rise in online investment fraud. Between January and August 2024 alone, 149 cases were recorded with losses nearing $128,534. "I fell for one," admits 18-year-old "Bronzy", who went from victim to perpetrator. "A guy scammed me using a fake forex trading site. So I learnt the game." He now runs a group on Telegram promising 20 percent weekly returns. "People invest and I disappear," he said. Abubakar Issaka, president of the Cyber Security Experts Association of Ghana, said the situation is only getting worse. "The regulations exist... but enforcement is weak. The number of professionals is not growing fast enough to match the fraud cases," he said. Tracing perpetrators "is a challenge due to poor data integration" between telecoms operators and the national ID database, he added. In some cases, the phone numbers used in frauds "belong to people who died years ago. Fraudsters are steps ahead." - No end in sight - Victims suffer anxiety and financial ruin. Scammers are not untouched. Ghost admits he's often afraid. "Sometimes, I can't sleep. I wonder if the police will knock. But when I see my friends living large, I feel like I must keep going." As dusk settles over Nima, Ghost logs off, pockets his burner phone, and steps into the fading light. He didn't make any money that day. His world is one of quick, fickle wins and quiet fear. But with Ghana's economy showing no signs of rapid recovery, many more are likely to follow him into the shadows. by Winifred Lartey
